Chapter 473: Please Save This Country!
Chapter 473: Please Save This Country!
"Hmph. This level of pirate can only scrape by in a dump like this."
Kuro glanced disdainfully at the headless corpses littering the floor. "A 'great pirate'? More like gutter trash. Who the hell do they think they are calling themselves great pirates?"
True great pirates were legends—figures like the Four Emperors, Shanks, or Lucius. Even last year's Super Novas had potential to become great pirates. But these worms? They didn't deserve the title.
Kuro had already decided to kill them the moment he heard their arrogant talk. Whether for duty or personal reasons, they weren't leaving this tavern alive.
As for merit?
Who cares about merit when he'd lost his Navy hooded cloak and wore a straw hat to hide his face? Even if he exposed his identity here, it wouldn't earn him a promotion. Did they think merit points grew on trees?
Biting down on his cigar, Kuro turned his back on the blood-soaked mess and returned to his seat. "You'll need to clean this tavern up after this mess. Might as well use the bounty to renovate—this damp stench is unbearable. And fix the door while you're at it."
Dick hadn't moved yet, still staring at the carnage like a man in shock. Moments ago, these pirates had been roaring with laughter. Now only their severed heads remained. One man had done all this?
"Hey! Stop gawking and bring me food—I'm starving."
The sound of Kuro's knuckles rapping the table snapped Dick back to reality. "Who... who are you?!" he stammered.
"Just your paying customer." Kuro gestured at the corpses. "You're not going to refuse service over this, are you? Unless you want to join them in retirement?"
"I'll get it right away!"
Dick stumbled into the kitchen, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Outside, rain poured steadily. Kuro sat calmly at the bar, pouring himself a drink as if surrounded by nothing but the scent of fine wine rather than blood and death.
"Not bad", he murmured, savoring the drink.
"Your meal!"
Dick burst from the kitchen carrying two steaming bowls and a plate. One bowl held a Devil Fruit, the other simple meat and potatoes. The plate bore noodles smothered in rich tomato sauce with shrimp scattered on top.
In this world, it was plain fare—tavern food meant to fill bellies, not impress palates.
Kuro wasted no time. He grabbed a bone-in meat chunk, gnawed off the flesh, and spat out the stripped bone. The food vanished at an alarming rate until the last bite disappeared down his throat.
"Here, sir!"
Dick bowed deeply, offering a towel with both hands.
"Thanks." Kuro wiped his mouth, then his hands. "Don't worry—I'm not interested in you. Otherwise, you'd be dead already."
"It's not that—"
Dick inhaled sharply, then suddenly dropped to his knees. "Please! Save This Country!!!"
Kuro froze mid-wipe, watching the burly man bow so low his forehead cracked against the table.
"Huh?"
"Save This Country!" Dick shot upright, eyes blazing. "You're strong—you have to be! Defeat Krein Oge! Bring hope to this cursed land! Only someone like you can do it!!"
His voice cracked with desperation. Tears streamed down his face as he slammed his forehead against the table again, shattering the wood. "Please!! Save Our Country!!!"
"Whoa, whoa—who the hell is this Krein Oge guy?" Kuro pinched his brow, clearly annoyed. "You're a retired pirate, right? What's all this about—wait."
He suddenly turned toward the window.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Outside, synchronized footsteps echoed through the storm. Through the window, soldiers in uniform marched in formation down the street, muskets and blades at the ready.
"Krein's army. They're here to drag someone away again", Dick muttered, limping to the window. His right leg, replaced by a wooden peg below the knee, dragged awkwardly. "Watch closely. You'll see what this country has become."
Outside, soldiers kicked down a door.
Crash!
A woman screamed as soldiers dragged her outside. Inside, a boy of four or five wailed, trying to chase after her until soldiers blocked the doorway like an unyielding wall.
Kuro stood, instinctively moving toward the window.
"Watch!" Dick blocked his path. "See what this country truly is!"
"You're asking to die, aren't you?" Kuro growled.
"My life ended five years ago." Dick gave a bitter smile. "But I, Dick the 'Piercing Long Spear'—a pirate with a bounty of 500 million—swear on my honor, they'll survive this! Just watch!"
Five hundred million?
In the New World, that made him a name to fear. But from Kuro's Observation Haki, this cripple's aura was weaker than a commoner—frailer even than the beggar he'd met yesterday. That beggar still had the will to live. This man? His spirit was as dead as a stone.
His essence had crumbled long ago.
(End of Chapter)
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